Members of Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association of Nishtar Medical Institute staged a demonstration outside Nishtar Hospital Tuesday to protest against a doctor who allegedly slapped a woman paramedic on Monday.
Dr Ahmed, an administration registrar at the Pak-Italian Modern Burn Unit, is accused of slapping paramedic Rasheeda Naeem and pushing her to the ground, causing her a minor head injury, an official at the Burn Unit said.
Rao Irfanur Rehman, Iqbal Tahir and other members of the Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association said that some of the paramedics including Rasheeda Naeem, had previously filed a complaint against Dr Ahmed on June 17 and Nishtar Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Ashiq Malik had ordered an inquiry. They said the attack on Naeem was a “retaliatory step”.
The protesters demanded that the Punjab government, provincial health secretary and the Punjab Healthcare Commission chief proceed against the doctor.
MS Dr Ashiq Malik said he doubted the veracity of the paramedics’ statement but an inquiry committee comprising three medical superintendents and a paramedic had been constituted to probe the incident. He said the committee would present a report in three days. He said Dr Ahmed and the paramedics allegedly involved had been transferred to other wards.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2014.